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BAHAWALPUR, Oct 09 (APP): The Department of Environment organized an anti-smog awareness walk from the DC Office Bahawalpur to GPO Chowk to highlight measures for preventing smog and air pollution.
The walk was led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Muhammad Tayyab and attended by Director Health, Deputy Director Environment, students, officers from various government departments, and representatives of civil society.
Addressing the participants, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Muhammad Tayyab urged farmers not to burn crop residue, emphasizing that such practices significantly contribute to smog formation. He directed kiln owners to ensure the use of zigzag technology in brick kilns to minimize air pollution and instructed all factory owners to install air pollution control equipment in their industrial units.
Highlighting the major causes of smog, he said that burning garbage, old tyres, leather waste, smoke-emitting vehicles, use of substandard fuel in kilns, burning of polythene bags, and setting fire to paddy and sugarcane residues all release harmful smoke that contributes to smog. He informed the participants that Special Smog Control Squads have been established and are actively conducting operations to curb air pollution and smog-causing activities. He added that the Government of Punjab has imposed a complete ban on practices that lead to smog, including the burning of crop residues, emission of industrial smoke, burning of municipal waste, tyres, and plastic materials.
He further stated that the Punjab government has also banned all activities harmful to public health and those contributing to environmental pollution and smog. ADC (G) Muhammad Tayyab said the purpose of organizing the awareness walk was to educate the public about smog prevention and draw attention to the seriousness of the issue. He stressed that smog is a dangerous environmental hazard that requires collective efforts to combat. He warned that smog can cause coughing, flu, respiratory illnesses, and other health complications, urging citizens to play their part in reducing pollution for a cleaner and healthier environment.